Legislature to mull $300 million request
Phoenix wants help with Civic Plaza
Elvia Díaz
The Arizona Republic
May. 1, 2003 12:00 AM
State lawmakers will consider a $300 million request from Phoenix to help pay for the proposed $600 million Civic Plaza expansion after last-minute maneuvering.
But it is still unclear whether there are enough supporters in either chamber to approve the bill before the Legislature wraps up its regular session.
Senate President Ken Bennett said Wednesday that he has cleared the way for the Civic Plaza legislation to be introduced as early as today. "It's fantastic news," Phoenix Assistant City Manager Sheryl Sculley said. "Our chances improve every day."
Some key lawmakers are opposing Phoenix's petition, arguing legislation of that magnitude would be too distracting as they try to deal with the state's budget problems.
"It's very poor timing," said Sen. Bob Burns, a Peoria Republican and chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which might hold a hearing on the bill.
"I don't disagree an upgraded Civic Plaza might bring in more people to Arizona," Burns added. "But we don't have money to spare."
Plaza backers organized a lunch Wednesday at the Capitol, hoping to persuade lawmakers to support the legislation.
Bennett said he isn't counting on rallying votes, he's merely allowing the bill to be introduced this late in the legislative process.
Earlier this year, lawmakers made it clear they weren't ready to consider the proposal because of the state's billion-dollar budget problem. A House committee shelved similar legislation in February.
But Bennett agreed to give Phoenix a chance to make its case to senators, partly because the Joint Legislative Budget Committee said the project could generate enough money to offset the $300 million cost to the state.
House Speaker Jake Flake, R-Snowflake, has said he supports the concept. His spokesman, Jake Logan, said Flake has not decided whether to pursue a concurrent bill in his chamber to expedite the funding request.
Though Arizona won't make the first payment on the $300 million debt until 2009, Phoenix needs the state's commitment to go ahead and begin the work to increase the facility to 940,000 square feet of rentable space.
http://www.azcentral.com/specials/sp...icPlaza01.html
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